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GS Esports Announces Intent to Acquire Canadian Esports and Digital Media Startup, Volcanic Media

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TGS Esports Inc. is pleased to announce that it has taken the next step in its growth strategy by executing a letter of intent dated October 1, 2020 (the “LOI”) to acquire Volcanic Media Inc. (“Volcanic”), a leader in scholastic and grassroots Canadian esports.

Volcanic was founded in 2018 and is the creator of the National Esports Scholastic League, a first of its kind initiative that works directly with school districts and educators to create various esports initiatives. To date Volcanic has worked with over 1000 high school students in 13 different cities spanning 6 school districts.

Volcanic has been at the forefront of scholastic esports including awarding high school esports scholarships and creating inter-district high school esports leagues, both firsts of their kind in Canada. Volcanic have also started work on indigenous esports efforts, previously working with Binche Keyoh First Nations for pilot esports programs.

Following the closing of the Acquisition (the “Closing”), TGS is also proud to announce that, as part of this new partnership, all high schools looking to utilize Volcanic will be able to do so absolutely free with no fees paid by schools or students. Interested schools can reach out to Shawn Caldera: [email protected].

Acquisition Highlights

The Acquisition is expected to drive over 200,000 new users to TGS through scholastic leagues, tournaments, and in-class programs.

The new users will feed into TGS’ online platform, Pepper Esports, which adds to TGS’ overall strategy of having one central ecosystem that creates an unparalleled esports experience.

The Acquisition has the potential to put TGS at the forefront of High School esports in Canada and offer TGS an all new scholastic division led by Shawn Caldera and JP Perez of Volcanic.
“We have been working with Shawn and his team for some time now and it made perfect sense to bring Volcanic into the fold,” said Spiro Khouri, CEO of TGS. “Thirty percent of all gamers are under the age of 181 and that number is growing. By introducing that demographic to TGS it allows them to interact with us early and stay a part of our ecosystem beyond High School.”

“Volcanic was created to provide high quality esports events in the scholastic space. In this regard, the agreement with TGS will allow us to take Volcanic to the next level and work with students not only in High School but beyond,” said Shawn Caldera, President of Volcanic.

SOURCE TGS Esports Inc

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Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

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Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.

Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.

Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.

Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.

Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.

Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.

“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”

Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.

“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”

The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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BCLC

Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026

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BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.

Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].

Registration and program details will be released later this fall.

The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

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Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).

The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.

Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestoneit’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”

On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”

Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.

 

The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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